Britney Spears has suffered more than her fair share of heartbreak and devastation in her life, but it didn’t just start with the 40-year-old pop sensation.
From her grandmother’s tragic death to Britney’s own struggles to have rights to her children and her own life, it’s been a challenge for Britney.
Britney has only recently managed to get her life back under her own control following her public meltdown in 2007, and after years of fighting, celebrations erupted in November as she welcomed freedom.
While Britney is surrounded by the more positive scenes now with her engagement and seemingly happy life, it’s not been smooth sailing for the Spears family – even before Britney was born.
Grandmother’s tragic suicide
(Image: @MonaLisaney81/Twitter)
The Spears name faced tragedy far before Britney’s own tough experiences, with her paternal grandmother suffering from depression and taking her own life at the age of 31.
US Magazine previously reported that Emma Jean Spears had killed herself at the grave of her three-day-old son eight years after his untimely death.
It was reported at the time that Emma had tried to kill herself three times before her fatal incident, leaving behind four children including Britney’s father, Jamie.
Jamie Lynn Spears abortion ‘pushing’
(Image: Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Jamie Lynn Spears famously got pregnant aged 16 which ultimately caused her hit TV show, Zoey 101, to end its reign on Nickelodeon.
However, years later, in her forthcoming memoir, Jamie is now claiming that her parents repeatedly tried to convince to her consider abortion or adoption.
In extracts from the memoir obtained by TMZ, she recalls her parents telling her that having a baby at that point in her life was a “terrible idea”.
She alleged that her parents said: “It will kill your career. You are just too young. You don’t know what you’re doing. There are pills you can take. We can help you take care of this problem … I know a doctor.”
She added: “Everyone around me just wanted to make this ‘issue’ disappear…everyone was certain that termination would be the best course of action.”
Ultimately, Jamie Lynn ignored the alleged pushing and went on to have her daughter, Maddie, in 2008.
Britney’s custody battle
Britney and Kevin Federline met in 2004 and after three months they announced their engagement, before getting married in September of that same year.
The following year, Britney had her first son Sean and welcomed Jayden a year after that.
By November 2006, Britney filed for divorce and it was settled in March 2007.
She lost custody of her two children in 2007 following her public breakdown which saw her shave her own head before attacking a photographer’s car with an umbrella.
In 2008, Britney was arrested after she locked herself in a bathroom with Jayden which only ended when she was taken home in an ambulance following a four-hour standoff.
After that, the pair agreed to 50-50 custody, but after an altercation between Sean and his grandfather Jamie, Kevin was granted 70% custody of both children.
Father’s illness
(Image: GETTY)
Britney, who previously relied heavily on her father, was hit with concern when Jamie Spears fell ill in late 2018, with the star pressing pause on her Domination Las Vegas residency.
Jamie was said to have suffered a ruptured colon and was put in hospital for nearly a month.
At the time, a source told Us Weekly that Britney was left devastated over the ordeal and chose to enter a treatment facility.
They said: “She’s been depressed and hasn’t been able to find a way out of it. After Jamie’s recent surgery, she found herself so full of anxiety and panic, she didn’t know who to turn to or what to do. She’s been spiralling and feeling lost.”
Conservatorship battle
(Image: britneyspears/Instagram)
One year after Britney’s public breakdown in 2007, her father Jamie was placed in control of the star’s assets, finances and rights.
Now, 13 years after the reigns were handed over to Jamie, a judge has granted the termination of Britney’s conservatorship, allowing the star freedom to make her own decisions.
Britney told a court in June: “I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told right now in the conservatorship I am not able to get married and have a baby.”
The conservators wouldn’t let her have her birth control removed, she claimed.
She stated that she was forced to go on tour, made to take medications she didn’t want and go into rehab.
Jamie has since said that he loves his daughter “unconditionally” and has “tried to do what is in her best interests”.
He agreed to step down as her conservator and it was officially approved this year.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
